Chloe's POV
Gideon's eyes dropped to the biscuit packet on the table. He picked it up, turning it once between his fingers. The seal was already broken.
"You opened it."
I hesitated.
"I gave one to the parrot earlier. The one Arthur bought."
His gaze lifted slowly to my face.
"What wine did he give you?"
"Sweet wine."
The words came out quieter than I intended.
Gideon set the packet down.
"You returned late. Then you sat drinking at someone else's table for hours. Tell me, Chloe—how should I punish that?"
The color drained from my face. I stared at him, unsure what to say. I had spent so long trying to bury what I felt for Gideon after everything he'd done to me. Lately, it was getting harder to pretend those feelings were gone.
Gideon stood, walked to
